Adjustable steering column assembly

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly, a locking assembly, and an adjustment lever. The jacket assembly extends along a steering column axis and is connected to a support bracket. The locking assembly is movable between a locked position that inhibits movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis and an unlocked position that facilitates movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis. The adjustment lever is arranged to pivot about a lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
       1. A steering column assembly, comprising:
 a jacket assembly extending along a steering column axis, the jacket assembly is connected to a support bracket; 
 a locking assembly connected to the support bracket, the locking assembly movable between a locked position that inhibits movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis and an unlocked position that facilitates movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis; and 
 an adjustment lever connected to the locking assembly and extending along a lever axis that is disposed parallel to the steering column axis, the adjustment lever being arranged to rotate about the lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position, 
 wherein the locking assembly, further comprising: 
 a lock housing disposed on the support bracket, the lock housing defining a first pin pocket and a second pin pocket, the lock housing being fixed against rotation relative to the support bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 ,
 the lock housing defining a central opening that extends through the lock housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment lever includes a first portion extending directly from the locking assembly along the lever axis, a second portion that extends from the first portion, and a handle connected to the second portion, wherein the first portion is arranged to rotate about the lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
       4. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly, further comprising:
 a bolt that extends through the lock housing and into the jacket assembly along a bolt axis that is disposed transverse to at least one of the steering column axis and the lever axis. 
 
     
     
       5. The steering column assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment lever is connected to the bolt. 
     
     
       6. The steering column assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment lever defines a first pocket and a second pocket, wherein each of the first pocket and the second pocket includes a first side surface and a second side surface extending in non-parallel, non-perpendicular relation with one another. 
     
     
       7. The steering column assembly of  claim 6 , wherein an end of the adjustment lever defines a flat that selectively engages a travel stop feature defined by the lock housing, wherein the flat restricts the degree of rotation of the adjustment lever about the lever axis. 
     
     
       8. The steering column assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the locking assembly, further comprising:
 a first clamp pin extending between the first pin pocket and the first pocket, the first clamp pin being arranged for pivotal movement within the first pin pocket in response to rotation of the adjustment lever about the lever axis; and 
 a second clamp pin extending between the second pin pocket and the second pocket, the second clamp pin being arranged for pivotal movement within the second pin pocket in response to rotation of the adjustment lever about the lever axis. 
 
     
     
       9. The steering column assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first clamp pin and the second clamp pin are disposed perpendicular to the lever axis while the locking assembly is in the locked position. 
     
     
       10. The steering column assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first clamp pin and the second clamp pin are disposed in a non-perpendicular relationship with respect to the lever axis while the locking assembly is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       11. A steering column assembly, comprising:
 a jacket assembly extending along a steering column axis, the jacket assembly is connected to a support bracket; 
 a locking assembly connected to the support bracket, the locking assembly movable between a locked position that inhibits movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis and an unlocked position that facilitates movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis; 
 an adjustment lever connected to the locking assembly and extending along a lever axis that is disposed parallel to the steering column axis, the adjustment lever being arranged to rotate about the lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position; and 
 the locking assembly, further comprising: 
 a lock housing disposed on the support bracket, the lock housing defining a central opening that extends through the lock housing, and 
 a bolt assembly extends through the central opening and into the jacket assembly along a bolt axis that is disposed transverse to at least one of the steering column axis and the lever axis. 
 
     
     
       12. The steering column assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment lever extends across the central opening of the lock housing and through the bolt assembly. 
     
     
       13. The steering column assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment lever defines a first pocket and a second pocket. 
     
     
       14. The steering column assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the locking assembly, further comprising:
 a pin housing connected to at least one of the lock housing and the bolt assembly. 
 
     
     
       15. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pin housing defines a first pin pocket aligned with the first pocket and a second pin pocket aligned with the second pocket. 
     
     
       16. The steering column assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the locking assembly, further comprising:
 a first clamp pin extending between the first pin pocket and the first pocket, the first clamp pin being arranged for pivotal movement within the first pin pocket in response to rotation of the adjustment lever about the lever axis; and 
 a second clamp pin extending between the second pin pocket and the second pocket, the second clamp pin being arranged for pivotal movement within the second pin pocket in response to rotation of the adjustment lever about the lever axis. 
 
     
     
       17. The steering column assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first clamp pin and the second clamp pin are disposed perpendicular to the lever axis while the locking assembly is in the locked position. 
     
     
       18. The steering column assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first clamp pin and the second clamp pin are disposed in a non-perpendicular relationship with respect to the lever axis while the locking assembly is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       19. A steering column assembly, comprising:
 a jacket assembly extending along a steering column axis, the jacket assembly is connected to a support bracket; 
 a locking assembly connected to the support bracket, the locking assembly movable between a locked position that inhibits movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis and an unlocked position that facilitates movement of the jacket assembly relative to the steering column axis; and 
 an adjustment lever connected to the locking assembly and extending along a lever axis that is disposed parallel to the steering column axis, the adjustment lever being arranged to rotate about the lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the adjustment lever includes a first portion extending directly from the locking assembly along the lever axis, a second portion that extends from the first portion, and a handle connected to the second portion, wherein the first portion is arranged to rotate about the lever axis to move the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the second portion is arranged to move relative to the first portion during an adjustment of the jacket assembly along the steering column axis.